PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Macho Martel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martel's entrance music is The Original Techno Viking. A fine choice. John is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jimmy Dean - Big John. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Martel
vs
John

199 cm
27
230 lbs
23 - 7 - 1

184 cm
29
199 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

GMMA Supplements 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Macho Martel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Big John!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John needs to keep his hands up - Martel had a free shot at his head there.
John tries to clinch
and Martel counters with a stiff right hand.
Big John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
John wants to clinch

and Martel counters with a single leg into guard. John didn't expect that.

John wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
John closes the distance looking to clinch

and Martel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martel.
Martel tries to free his leg and advance position but John is retaining full guard.
Martel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
John working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Martel.
John wants to sweep but no luck.
Martel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. John is keeping the position for now.
John looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Martel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
John has Martel pulled in close to control his posture.
Martel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. John is keeping the position for now.
Martel prevents John from getting back to his feet.
John really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
John is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Martel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Big John.
John moves to clinch but Martel breaks away

and Martel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Martel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Martel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martel stops John from standing up.
Martel stopping the sweep attempt from John.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martel with a nice head shot there.
John looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martel is one step ahead there.
Martel with a flurry of punches that miss.
John keeping moving, preventing Martel from controlling successfully.
John trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Martel postures up.
Martel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. John swivels though and keeps the full guard.
John preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Martel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Martel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martel prevents John from getting back to his feet.
John is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
John looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Martel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Martel wants to pass the guard but John is keeping the position.

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Martel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
John wants to stand up but Martel is controlling him.

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
John trying to keep a closed guard but Martel is proving a slippery customer.
Martel won't allow John to get back to his feet.
John looks gassed!

Martel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
John wants to stand up but Martel is controlling him.
Martel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
John wants to get back to his feet but Martel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Martel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now John is on top in guard.

Martel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Macho Martel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

John tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Martel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martel circles away from the clinch attempt

so Martel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Martel slips nicely into half guard.

Martel is working for a kimura but John is defending it quite comfortably.

Martel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so John is just riding it out for now. Martel eventually gives up the hold.
John moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John is looking to stand up but Martel isn't so interested in that idea.

Martel drops back looking for a leg! John is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and John manages to kick Martel off! Martel jumps back into John's guard.
Macho Martel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martel stopping the sweep attempt from John.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
John trying to control the position.
Martel won't allow John to sweep him here.

Martel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Martel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Martel looking to pass the guard.
John tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Martel is in close to John's body, working some short punches and elbows.
John working a defensive guard here.
Martel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
John seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Martel stopping the sweep attempt from John.
Martel stands and throws John's legs to the side, diving into side control.
John is looking for a sweep.

Martel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Martel tries for a kimura but John is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John regains half guard.

Martel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and John defends it well.

John is defending against the submission attempts here by Martel.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
John keeping control of the position.
John is pressing down on Martel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
John not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martel trying to control but John is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Martel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Martel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
John bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martel's guard.

Martel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but John can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
John makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
John missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Martel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Martel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Martel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Macho Martel dominated that second round.
That's time! Martel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

John tries to clinch

and Martel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
John tries to kick Martel off but Martel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Martel is trying to work for a kimura but John is defending well.

John is defending against the submission attempts here by Martel.
John has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Martel is working away from the top position though.

Martel is looking for a kimura but John is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Martel to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
John pushes Martel off looking to stand but Martel dives back in and keeps control.

Martel is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
John wants to get back to full guard.

Martel seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John looks like he's trying to stand up.

Martel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Martel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
John wants to control but Martel is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Martel seems to be looking for submissions.
Martel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
John is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Martel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Martel's back!
John is punishing Martel with strikes - can he finish him?!
John is landing with strikes. Martel can't take much more of this.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John lands with a hammerfist to the side of Martel's head.
John gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Martel rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Martel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
John must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
John trying to control but Martel is working from the bottom.
John pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martel is keeping the position for now.

Martel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. John is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Martel.
Martel is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martel manages to get back to half guard.
John trying to control the action but Martel is working from the bottom.
John takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Martel looking for submissions off his back.
John looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Martel with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
John thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martel punching from the bottom.
John is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Martel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martel working for a triangle but John defends it easily.
John throws a big right hand that misses.

Martel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. John gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Martel keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

Martel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

John got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, John has managed to get both his arms back between Martel's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Macho Martel did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Martel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
John wants to clinch
and Martel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

John rushes Martel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
John tries to land a knee to the head but Martel blocks with his arms.
John tries to land a knee to the head but Martel blocks with his arms.
John misses with a knee strike.
Martel goes for a takedown in the clinch but John prevents it.
John with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martel tries to pull guard but John won't allow it.
John with an attempt at a knee that misses.
John throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martel blocks it with crossed arms.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
John tries to land a knee to the head but Martel blocks with his arms.
John tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
John gets underhooks to prevent Martel's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Macho Martel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
John throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martel blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. John is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
John misses with a knee strike.
Martel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martel fails to pull guard.

Martel pulls John into guard.

Martel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. John defends it easily.
Martel keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

Martel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Martel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead John passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martel takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Martel is trying to get back to half guard.
John working the head with strikes.
Martel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
John scoring with punches from side control.
Martel takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
John is chipping away with strikes.
John wants to control but Martel is keeping him busy.
John lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martel is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Martel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Martel dodges the ground and pound from John.
Martel is looking for a sweep.
John is chipping away with strikes.
John cracks Martel with a big elbow.
Martel is working to avoid the ground and pound but John connects with a decent elbow.
John in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
John grinds an elbow into Martel's temple.
John lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martel is looking to reverse the position.
John is working Martel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Martel gets back to half guard.
Martel is looking to improve his position.
John missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
John winds up and cracks Martel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
John is trying to control. Martel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Martel has hold of John's hands but John slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
John trying to control the action but Martel is working from the bottom.
Martel wants to improve his position but John is controlling well.

Martel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big John dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Martel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

John doesn't manage to clinch there - Martel circles away.
John closes the distance looking to clinch

and Martel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for John!

Martel working for a submission but John is keeping him at bay.
John tries to lock up and control but Martel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
John tries to get back to half guard but can't.
John is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
John squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
BOOM! Martel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
John looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Martel is cranking John's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for John! He's tightened the choke and John is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Macho Martel!